Lately I’ve been the “No Mom.” It seems my kids have been persistent in finding every way possible to get me to say “no.” I finally decided I wanted one day where I said “yes” more than I said “no.” While shopping, I took my kids to the candy aisle (a very rare treat) and told them to pick anything within a designated section. Feeling pretty happy with my lenient self, I smiled at my children and realized their eyes had shifted to the two-pound bags of candy. Sure enough, the dreaded question arose. “Mom, can I have that one?” So much for being “Yes Mom.” That didn’t even last a few hours.
But you know what? I love my kids too much to give them things that aren’t for their best. I desperately wish I could give them everything they want, but that would be so much easier if they wanted all the things that were good for them!
I’m afraid I often put God in this same position. He has to say no to me, because my desires are for things that aren’t in my best interest. If I could just give up what I want want and be content with His purposes and plans, I would perceive all the times He is working for me. How many times have I quoted Jeremiah 29:11, believing God has good in store for me, but never fully giving up my selfish desires?
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'”
Those ARE His plans. But do I live like I believe it? Or do I consistently seek after my own pleasure, pursuing things outside of God’s perfect plan for me?
Reading Numbers 11 one day, I began to see myself in the Israelites (yet again). God had so graciously set apart this people as special for Himself and proven His faithfulness time and again in mind- blowing ways. Currently the people were being fed by manna (which tasted like cakes made from oil- vs. 8) directly delivered from Heaven each morning. The promise was that they would be taken to a land full of choice foods if they would trust God until that time. But the Israelites just couldn’t do it. They reminisced about their former lives in Egypt where they had meat to eat; Egypt- the place where they had been abused as slaves for years. They were so consumed with these thoughts that they complained continually because of their lack of meat. The Bible says they had “a strong craving” (vs. 4 ESV).
The Lord heard their pleas and understood that these thick-headed people couldn’t perceive God’s goodness and plan for them until this craving was satisfied. He gave them their meat- so much that they would get sick of it. As they began eating their fill, they had no concern for the warnings God gave them, no remorse for their stubborn ways, and no wisdom to even try to see how God was working on their behalf. They so enjoyed this deviation from God’s plan, that He struck down those that had “the craving” (Vs. 33-34).
What is my craving? Am I so hungry for God’s plan that I forsake my own passions? Or do I have the same foolish notion that some temporary pleasure can satisfy me?
Father, forgive my foolishness and short-sighted tendencies. Please set my sights on You alone. Help me to trust that Your plans are best, no matter how difficult or uncomfortable they may seem in a given moment. May I only crave You. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
“Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, ‘Oh that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.’” Numbers 11:4-6
“And say to the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat, for you have wept in the hearing of the Lord, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat? For it was better for us in Egypt.” Therefore the Lord will give you meat, and you shall eat. You shall not eat just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days, but a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have rejected the Lord who is among you and have wept before him, saying, “Why did we come out of Egypt?”’” Numbers 11:18-20
“And the people rose all that day and all night and all the next day, and gathered the quail. Those who gathered least gathered ten homers. And they spread them out for themselves all around the camp. While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord struck down the people with a very great plague. Therefore the name of that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had the craving.” Numbers 11:32-34